From Yaga’s secret stash, I knew there were only a handful of sacred arbors left in the world. Each tree had a powerful protector. A king or queen who sat on the living throne, channeling obsidian, the lifeblood of all magic, to their lands. That magic spread to their people. Magical people. Like shifters, witches, mages, faeries... All with incredible gifts.
Alaric’s tale of Carcerem had been one such kingdom. Its arbor was twisted under a corrupt ruler, its magic poisoned. Alaric had been captured and imprisoned there. Until a new ruler came along to free the citizens.
Except, the land Nefarr rested upon held no magic. That was why the Puritans made their home here long ago.
I moved to stand at Sebastian’s side, rubbing his ears. “What happened to the tree?”
Sebastian shoved his silky head into my hand, prancing across the dusty pages, leaving cute little footprints. I glanced closer at the pages. Why was this text above all others placed on a podium? Was it special in some way, or was some long-ago scholar forced to leave it behind when the castle was attacked?
I leaned closer and blew the dust off.
Sebastian objected with an irritated sneeze before jumping away. I extracted the glowing crystal from my pocket and held it above the pages. The passage described the origins of a powerful demon—of fire, chains, and suffering. Unease prickled my skin. I flipped through numerous chapters, each cataloging a different demon species. Whoever it was that opened this book was into some scary stuff.
“What is this?” I trailed my fingers over a ragged seam. Several of the pages were missing.
“Mew!”
I sucked a breath, startled half out of my skin. “Dang it, Sebastian. Are you trying to stop my heart?” Casting one lastglance around the room, I uttered, “Let’s get out of here. This place is giving me the creeps.”
My partner was all too eager to agree. We slipped through the broken entrance and continued down the hallway.
Just a short distance from the library, we came to an ornate set of doors, these in slightly better shape.
“Let’s check it out,” I whispered, turning the doorknob.
Inside, I discovered what I assumed was a royal sitting room. Scattered around the space were several settees, the upholstery rotted and spotted with mold. Crumbling stone littered what was once a priceless rug. It crunched under my feet as I moved deeper into the chamber.
On one wall was a large fireplace, long gone cold. Above it was a massive painting, the surface cloudy with dust. I drew closer, narrowing my eyes, lifting the stolen crystal higher. It was yet another likeness of the king on his throne. Only in this image, he wasn’t alone. Beside him stood a man with his elbow resting on the king’s shoulder, foot propped on his heel. His was a cocky pose, whereas the king sat with a stiffened spine. Could they be brothers?
While the painting was unremarkable, I found the jeweled dagger sticking out of the second man’s slashed face fascinating. Did it happen during the attack? Before or after? Had the siblings had an argument?
Again, I studied the image of the king, this one clearer than the one on the tapestry. His emerald-green eyes were strikingly familiar. My breath caught. “Could it be?” I whispered.
The sound of crunching stones hit my ears, and I spun, clutching my chest. “Sebastian, was that you?” Purring sounded at my feet, and I glanced down to find the silky black cat rubbing against my shins. Okay. Not Sebastian, since the noise came from the entrance.
Invisible spider legs skittered down my neck. I scrubbed my hand over my nape, brushing the feeling away.Don’t be aninny.I clenched my jaw.It’s only your imagination getting to you.
“Come on, Sebastian. Let’s keep searching.”
Finally, we neared the end of the great hall. Here, the scent of mold and decay grew stronger, and I pressed my sleeve to my nose. As I moved closer, many bodies littered the floor, their remains mere skeletons caged by golden armor, swords clamped in their bony hands. They began to pile up as we drew nearer to a massive set of doors, now little more than splinters. As if some mighty force had blown them off their hinges.
I sensed that this was the epicenter of the attack. Whatever lay beyond must have been exceptionally valuable—something worth dying for. The king’s men had made their stand here. Anticipation coiled tight beneath my ribcage, my pulse quickening. This could be it, the answer to so many of my questions.
Carefully, I stepped over the remains of a long-fallen soldier, uttering a prayer for the stranger who’d died in defense of his home. Had his sacrifice been in vain? Were all who resided here lost, the same as the civilians in Nefarr? Tension twisted knots into my shoulders, and I chewed my bottom lip.
Another step, and a horrendous roar exploded. Wind blasted my chilly flesh. Furious green eyes swept into my vision.
Dagger-like teeth flashed. Hot breath washed over me.
I knew that monstrous snarl.
“Alaric!” I shrieked, tripping on a pile of bones.
My ass hit the floor, air punching from my lungs. I rolled to my stomach, propped myself up on my forearms, and blinked. Peering back at me was a skeletal face with black holes for eyeballs. Between its missing teeth, a spider popped out.
“Ahh!” I belted out a scream, scrambling back.
“What are you doing here?”The dragon’s roar thundered through my chest, rattling my teeth. Claws slammed into the floor, sending cracks spiderwebbing through the stone. Hestormed out of the mysterious room, an inferno of rage bearing down on me.
